Original Item: Only One Available. The SS (Schutzstaffel - 'Protection Squadron') was originally formed in 1925, ostensibly to act as a small, loyal bodyguard unit to protect the Führer, Adolf AH. Under the direction of the Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler, the SS grew to be the most ruthless and feared organization of the 20th century. They were the vanguard of the NSDAP and eventually controlled nearly every function of German life and much of Occupied Europe.

When WWII began in earnest, the SS-Verfügungstruppe (SS-VT) (SS Dispositional Troops) became the Waffen-SS ("Armed SS"), an official military branch of the SS organization. Its formations included men from NSDAP ruled Germany, along with volunteers and conscripts from both occupied and unoccupied lands.

This is a very nice example of a Waffen-ᛋᛋ im Bild (Waffen-SS in pictures), volume IV picture book, which is marked WAFFEN-ᛋᛋ IM BILD on the spine, and ᛋᛋ over IV on the front cover. The book measures 6 7/8" x 9 1/2", and is a cloth hard cover approximately 245 pages long. There is a forward, and also a good amount of text at the back, but the real purpose of the book is to show the Waffen-SS soldiers in pictures. Pages 17 to 216 are almost entirely pictures of captions, showing training and service of soldiers in the Waffen SS.

Condition is very good considering the age, with some yellowing of the text pages. The photo pages show less yellowing, but have also started to detach from the binding, so there are many that are loose in the book currently, and it is possible that some are missing. There was most likely originally a slip cover for the book, but that is missing, and the cover shows wear and some staining. 

A great addition to any German WWII book collection.